From the Principal

Hello everyone, 

I had the pleasure of attending the school production, ‘Be More Chill’ last Thursday evening and thoroughly enjoyed the performance. Outstanding performances by all the cast with a special mention of Alannah Casey, playing the role of Jeremy, who was on stage for the entire performance singing and acting. In fact, the singing and acting by everyone was amazing.  

It was lovely to see students from Year 7 to Year 12 performing side by side, forming connections with each other that will continue for years to come. A special mention of the staff, for without them, the production would not exist. 

Thank you to Sarah Jeffs – Production Coordinator and Director, Alex Healey – Assistant Coordinator and Designer, Gabriel Alexandrescu – Musical Director, Maggie Doyle – Choral Director, Peter Southam – Music Assistant, Emily Lombard – Front of House and Liz Catford - Lighting. Also a special thank you for the musical students from Year 12 last year, coming back to support the musical. 

Tomorrow we will farewell Liz Catford as she will be leaving to take up a position at Derinya Primary school and we welcome Emily Parker. Emily will assist in our Inclusion area, 2 days per week.  

Have a wonderful week and thank you for your ongoing support. 

Linda Stanton

Principal

Important Dates

AUGUST

11/08 - 14/08/23 | Aerobics Final in Adelaide

28/08/23 | Parent Teacher Interviews 12pm - 7.00pm  - REVISED DATE

SEPTEMBER

7/09/23 | Year 7 2024 Parent Information Evening

11/09 - 14/09/23 | Year 11 Outdoor Education Gariwerd Camp

15/09/23 | Last day of Term 3 (2.30pm Finish)

OCTOBER

02/10/23 | First Day of Term 4

Laptop Usage

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Thank-you for your ongoing support with your child’s education. 

In Semester 1 the Teaching and Learning Leadership Team at the college have visited well over 100 classrooms with the intention to support a positive learning environment. As part of our findings, one of the observable barriers to student learning is incorrect use of laptops which we believe, for some students, has become a distraction in the classroom.

This is also supported by survey data from the student body, who have also indicated that laptops are not always used for their intended educational purpose in the classroom.

Appropriate and effective use of laptops will be a collective focus in the classroom this term and into the future and our positive behaviour culture process will be followed for students who are not using their devices appropriately. Laptops are a fantastic tool for student learning and should only be used when instructed by their teacher and for the purpose of the learning activity in each particular class - As per our Digital Technology College Policy (Digital Learning – Internet, social media and digital devices).

Please have a conversation with your child if you feel this may be an issue for them. We appreciate your support with this process.

Regards

Teaching and Learning Team.

Middle School

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Last week I attended the College Production and was amazed by the acting and singing of our students. It made me think about seeing our students beyond the classroom and all the amazing talent. You will see in this newsletter about Jed Clinch Year 8 and Alex Classon Year 9 who achieved outstanding results in tennis at the Victorian Regional Championships representing the Mornington Peninsula. Congratulations to Jed and Alex.

We love learning about the talents of your child, so please, get in touch and let me know if your child is doing something amazing beyond school.

Yesterday, I had three students from Year 8 show me their skateboards that they had made during their Hands on Learning Class. Hayden Kurts, Brodie Lanyon and Hudson Gould presented their skateboards and beamed with pride displaying their work and explaining the process. The skateboards cannot be used for skating as the material is too thin but can be used as a decoration for their room. The boys were keen to let me know all about its use and design. They commenced the project by designing an image on paper before transferring the image to the skateboard. After preparing their design they used paint and then posca pens for the details and highlight. The students were very proud of their achievements and Mrs Burnett believes we have designers in the making.

It is great to see students proud of their achievements.

Wishing you a great week

Denise Leggett

Middle School Assistant Principal

Teaching and Learning Leader

Senior School

To students and families of the Mornington Senior School,

What a rewarding week it has been at Mornington Secondary College. We’ve completed some wonderful days where we have had positive conversations with our Year 10 students and families. The Senior team have also met (or are still meeting) with 11 students who have requested subject and program changes for 2024 and those who have not performed to the best of their ability in one or more subjects so far in 2023, so we can support them in Semester 2.

I have been writing about our students being ready to learn and to gain greater insight into the learning behaviours of our Year 10 and 11 students, I’ve spent some time in the Year 10 and 11 locker bays in the mornings. What I’ve noticed is that while a vast majority of students have gone to their Connect class on time, there are a number of students who are either arriving late (to Connect or school) and either waiting around for period 1 or getting to Connect very late meaning they are missing vital parts of the MSC Connect program which is designed to keep students informed and ready for learning. 

What was most interesting, is that after Connect, a worryingly large number of students who returned from Connect to their lockers to get books for period 1 (and 2). A successful student, who is ready to learn, will take all their learning materials for periods 1 & 2 with them to Connect (and periods 1 and 2). A similar pattern occurred between period 1 and 2. This need to return to lockers results in students missing or interrupting the beginning of each lesson and this is where the learning intention and success criteria are discussed as the starter part of our STAR instructional model. The very part that informs students what they will be learning about and how they know what they need to be able to do to have successfully learned.

Therefore, over the next 2-3 weeks, we will be setting up a system to promote the learning behaviours we want to see, that we know will help students be successful in their learning. The Year 10 and 11 locker bays will be closed from the time Connect classes start (8:49) until sometime into period 1 (approx. 9:15). Students will be able to access their lockers as a member of the Senior team will be at the locker bays to provide access and record names of those students who need access. This will be a data-collecting exercise and a chance to identify individuals who may need additional support in being ready to learn. I’ll feed the results back in the coming weeks.

The Senior School Year Level Leaders have compiled highlights from this:

Year 10 

Mr Jake Uhlenberg

The course counselling process is finished, and thus concludes the sum of 13+ weeks of work in Connect classes, assemblies and multiple forms of information. We hope that everyone is happy at this time about their decisions for 2024 and we would like to extend a special congratulations to those students who are our successful applicants to VCE-VM.

Moving forward our focus will be on respect and empathy for those around us and our environment as well. We would like to thank the Year 10 students who got involved in the College clean-up we conducted Wednesday afternoon.

We are also happy to announce that we are opening the new Year 10 Corner Kitchen located outside of the Year 10/11 office with a simple set-up including microwave, kettle and sandwich press. We hope that students will see this as a privilege they have earned and will continue to demonstrate the qualities which required such a reward in the first place.

Year 11 

Dr Jasmine Keough 

Our focus on Academic Performance is in full swing! Our Connect sessions on the Wednesday will be concentrating on getting our students prepared to get the best marks they can. Students who received any Not Satisfactory for any SAC or subject will have a meeting with the Team Leader to see what supports they need; be it extra teacher direction, focussed study sessions in Connect time, or even Wellbeing support. Students will also be encouraged to plan ahead for the myriad SACs for all their subjects, and guided on how to study. Subject study sessions will commence next Wednesday to support them to do their best. The Coordination Team wants to ensure that all our lovely students are prepared for their final year of school next year.

University Open Day dates are now available, and information given to students. Posters with the information are available in the Common Room. Students who plan to go to university are recommended to go to the Open Days as they will be to see what courses are available and have a taste of what to expect. Students can plan to go with their friends and/or family to experience what university life can be.

The Vocational Major students are busy completing their Applied Learning Tasks and also enjoying their TAFE experience. The Coordination Team has some engaging events planned for them in the coming weeks.

We are almost at the halfway mark of this third term and the Coordination Team are always pleased with the respectful attitude and behaviour of our Year 11 students.

Year 12 

Mr Scott Kirby 

Year 12 Exam Revision Lectures

Exams

VTAC information has been distributed to students along with the exam navigator which will outline all the requirements of the 2023 VCAA exams. Below is a link to the VCAA website with information around rules for the exams, allowed materials and the timetable of exams. 

VCE exam timetable and allowed materials

Trial exams will be taking place in Term 3, week 10 during the school day. Final details will be published shortly but no exams will clash with the Connect revision seminars. No classes will run during this week for VCE ATAR students. 

Exams will run Monday-Thursday. 

English will run on Monday morning and then students will complete their exams by their timetable blocking for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. This will mean students will complete a maximum of two exams a day and at times, one. All exams will be completed prior to the commencement of the revisions seminars. 

Revision seminars

Thank you to parents who provided feedback about the Connect seminars.  The schedule aims to minimise clashes but cannot guarantee them. If a clash occurs, you may pay for both to get the resources and attend one or just choose which one you would like to attend. A minimum of 15 students are required in each seminar for the events to go ahead, so please ensure you register early to avoid cancellations. 

Events will be published this week and be accessible via Compass at a cost of $42 per seminar which will include a professionally bound text book and work booklet to complete during the session. 

Valedictory

Dear Parents, Guardians and Students,

The Year 12 Valedictory Dinner will be held on Tuesday 17th October at New Peninsula Baptist Church, 370 Craigie Rd, Mount Martha, from 6:30pm – 10pm.

We are pleased to invite parents, guardians, and family members to join our Year 12 students as they are formally presented with their graduation certificates and achievement awards, celebrating their successes at Mornington Secondary College. 

The event includes a three-course meal, and multiple photographers will be available on the night to capture the event, with a link sent out to all attendees to download the photos free of charge. Formal proceedings will be followed by dancing.

TICKET SALES AND SEATING INFORMATION

Ticket sales will close on Monday October 2nd, 2023. No further tickets will be available to purchase after this date. 

Ticket are prices at $102.50 plus 50c try booking fee and can be purchased through the following link: https://www.trybooking.com/CJJWI

Round 1 Ticket Sales

All families can purchase up to 3 tickets (student ticket plus 2 additional tickets).  Round 1 will close on Thursday 24th August 2023.

*Seating allocation is enabled via Try Booking upon purchasing tickets.

We understand that some families may require separate seating. For ease of booking, all odd table numbers are located on the left-hand side of the venue and even numbers on the right. Additionally, please note this preference in the comments section as table numbers are subject to change.  

If you plan to purchase additional tickets if available, please note this in the comment section on Try booking.

Round 2 Ticket Sales

For families who have already purchased tickets in Round 1, extra tickets may become available for purchase from Friday 25th August until Monday 2nd October 2023. The number of tickets that may be purchased will be dependent on the balance of remaining tickets.

As per school policy, this event will be smoke and alcohol free. 

Mornington Secondary College is committed to creating and maintaining a child safe environment in which students feel safe and are safe. Mornington Secondary College has a Child Safe Policy and a Child Safety Code of Conduct.

Kind regards,

Nick Evans

Senior School Assistant Principal

Parents as part of improving our school

Every year we run the Parent/Guardian/Carer opinion survey. This is a very important part of our work as the school of the Mornington community as it helps inform us as to how we are doing with new initiatives we have implemented and to shape what we do next. With that in mind its important to take a positive view of the school when filling out the survey, it seems so easy these days in our society to criticise without acknowledging the good work which is being done.

Many initiatives come from feedback from this survey, the newsletter you are currently reading being a very tangible example.  But its no good just reading this article, we need action from you. 

The survey will open on Monday (7th of August) and we are encouraging all families to participate. Last year we got feedback from around 250 families, this year I want us to see if we can smash that number. 

To access the survey log into compass and on the STAR menu you will find a link to the survey: “Parent Opinion Survey [PIN: XXXXXX]”, click this link and enter the PIN you will find there (not XXXXX!).  The survey is anonymous and will take you around 20min.

Watch this space for weekly updates.

Kind regards,

Mike Parker

Assistant Principal

KELIS

The Koorie students had an opportunity to go to Monash University and listen to some prominent Elders in the community, and be invited into the William Cooper Institute, for lunch and a tour. 

They participated in what they called ‘speed dating’ which was moving around the room, listening to a variety of  Indigenous students about a variety of leadership topics. 

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day - Friday 4th August

The theme for this year's celebration is ‘Little Voices, Loud Future’. It beautifully captures the essence of our young ones who hold within them the stories of their families, cultures, and Country. These children are the keepers of songlines passed down through generations, embodying the spirit of their ancestors and the legacy of their culture.

During this special occasion, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities come together to rejoice in the vibrant presence of our children, while also inviting all Australians to join in and learn about the richness of our diverse cultures.

These children carry with them the weight of history and tradition, but also hold the power to shape their own futures. As we celebrate their journey, let us continue to support and nurture them, empowering their little voices to echo with strength and optimism for the future they will create.

The date 4 August was historically used to communally celebrate the birthdays of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were taken from their families at a young age, without knowing their birthday – the Stolen Generations.

For more information follow the link National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day (aboriginalchildrensday.com.au)

Careers/Pathways 

All Year 12 students have now had their individual meetings to discuss their future pathway, we will continue to support all students with their plans for 2024. Students have indicated they are interested in a variety of pathways (Apprenticeships, TAFE, university, defence forces, emergency services, employment, etc), and we have advised all students that applications should now be underway.

Students from all year levels should apply for a Unique Student Identifier (USI) and keep it with all other important documents.  A USI is the first step in applying for any future courses at university, TAFE or other training providers. All Year 12 students were requested to apply for a USI if they didn't already have one.

Applying to any of the 9 universities for commencement in early 2024 will require a VTAC application to be completed. Some TAFEs (eg Holmesglen) & other training providers also use this system. Others (eg Chisholm) will require an application to be completed via links on their website.

VTAC Applications open on 31st July for Year 12s (2023) and there a quite a few steps students need to complete. Students have been provided with information regarding this application process and tools to research courses, etc, they will have support and time allocated during Tutorial classes mid Term 3 to assist with these applications.  Links below will support this and some are relevant to other year levels also.

Important Dates

VTAC Year 12 Guide

VTAC Year 11 Guide

VTAC Year 10 Guide

VTAC CourseSearch - including prerequisite explorer

Upcoming Webinars - Application process, ATAR & Scaling, Offers, Results, etc

Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS) - Categories, eligibility, videos, etc

Fact Sheets available in the following

Research

•      How to use Course Search

•      VCE Prerequisite Explorer in Course Search

•      Eligibility and course requirements

•      Casper: for initial teacher education courses

Applying

•       VTAC and the application process

•       Creating your VTAC account

•       Applying for courses

•       Applying for SEAS (& all the categories)

•       Applying for scholarships

•       Providing a statement of support

•       Pathways, Credit Transfer and RPL

•       Preparing for interviews, auditions and folios

ATAR, results and offers

•       The ATAR profile and selection

•       Study area groupings

•       VCE Results and ATAR Service Quick Reference for Careers Practitioners 2022

•       December offers

About VTAC - The Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) is the central office that administers the application processes for places in tertiary courses, scholarships and the Special Entry Access Scheme at universities, TAFEs and independent tertiary colleges in Victoria (and a few outside Victoria). VTAC receives and forwards application information and supporting documentation to the relevant authorities at institutions. 

The attached documents may assist students (& families) with the VTAC application process.

MSC Career Practitioners can be contacted at careers@mornsc.vic.edu.au

 VTAC-Tertiary-Research-Guide-2023.pdf

 VTAC-Guide-Applying-2023.pdf

 providing_a_statement_of_support.pdf

 prereq-explorer.pdf

Year  Health & Human Development

This week our Year 11 Health & Human Development class were delighted to be joined by Scarlett, Layla and Hazel. 

Our students were learning to appreciate;

• Considerations in becoming a parent
• What happens during pregnancy and childbirth
• Support services available to new parents
• Stages of development during infancy and early childhood

Mums, Brit and Amanda, were very generous with their time and answered lots of (sometimes quite personal) questions about their parenting experiences.

Year 7 Boys – Regional Football

On Tuesday this week 19 students from Year 7 represented the school at Southern Metropolitan Regional Football competition after winning the Division tournament last term. Despite having a few players away, the boys played some fantastic football and worked hard as a team all day. 

In our first game against Alkira Secondary College, the midfield and forward line fired resulting in a 72-8 win. In our second pool game, the boys played Cheltenham Secondary College. Despite being challenged early the boys ended up winning 38-14. 

This meant the boys progressed to the final against Beaumaris Secondary College. After a back and forth contest the boys unfortunately ended up losing by 8 points. 

Despite the result, the boys should be proud of their efforts and can hopefully come back next year and compete for a spot in the state championships. 

Rob Horwill

Sport

Hands on Learning - Term 2 Highlights

Hello to all our supporters and community members! We are thrilled to share the progress and achievements of the Hands on Learning Program for Semester 1. 

The Backyard Project: Transforming the Cottage Garden 

Our Thursday group has been dedicated to the transformative Backyard Project, which has truly flourished with the invaluable support of Bunnings. Their generous contribution of materials enabled us to build a fence and establish beautiful garden beds. The pictures we've attached capture the incredible before-and-after journey of this project, showcasing the hard work and dedication of our students. 

Community Service and Giving Back 

We take immense pride in our commitment to community service. Our students have actively participated in volunteering for Second Bite and Food Bank, where they assisted in serving food and engaging with clients. These experiences have been invaluable, fostering empathy, and a strong sense of responsibility within our students. 

Continuing Progress and Environmental Focus 

In this semester, our passionate students are continuing their work by extending the fence on the other side of the cottage. Moreover, we are thrilled to announce our strong focus on the wetland area near the cottage. We are incredibly grateful to the Mornington Peninsula Shire for their generous grant of $5000, which will be utilized to redevelop and enhance the biodiversity of the wetland. 

We believe that by nurturing this precious ecosystem, we are contributing to the overall well-being of our environment and the community. 

Our students are excited to take on this challenge, and we will keep you updated on their progress with our forthcoming images and reports. 

Thank you all for your continued support and belief in the power of Hands on Learning. Together, we are making a positive impact on the lives of our students and our broader community and environment. 

Warm regards, 

Hands on Learning Team 

Aerobics Team

Team Boulify will be competing in the National Aerobic competition being held in Adelaide next weekend (Friday 11th – Monday 14th August). 

Good luck to the team and congratulations for all of your hard work!

Tennis Victoria Regional Championships - Wodonga

Over the weekend two of our students represented the Mornington Peninsula in the Tennis Vic Regional Championships held in Wodonga.

Jed Clinch (Year 8) and Alex Classon (Year 9) both represented in the U14 team that finished a very close runner up to Loddon.

Jed won all of his 10 matches, while Alex won 9 of 10, losing only to the #1 player from the eventual winning team, Loddon.

Well done to both boys and congratulations for representing the Mornington Peninsula!

Staff profiles

Matt Mackenzie

My name is Matt Mackenzie and I have been a part of the Mornington Secondary College teaching staff for almost 14 years as a Health and Physical Education (PE) Teacher. During this time, in addition to teaching, I have had a variety of roles including College Sport and Extra-Curricular Leader, Year Level Leader and in my current role as a Teaching and Learning Leader.

Quality teaching and learning is a passion of mine and I feel very fortunate to be able to work with students and staff in this capacity. In our role this year we have focussed on building good classroom routines, effective lesson structure (utilising our STAR instructional model), incorporating differentiation into lessons and encouraging students to challenge themselves academically to grow in each class.

I love teaching PE and getting involved in college sport and extra-curricular activities! I am a strong believer that participation in these activities helps to builds connections with peers, staff and the college in general! I have also thoroughly enjoyed teaching VCE PE for many years now and supporting students to achieve in this subject area.

Personally, I enjoy getting away on caravan holidays with my family, keeping active, surfing and watching the Saints play on the weekend!

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